Assises Nationales des Déchets · 2026

Agoris analysis · updated October 2026

Key takeaways

• The Assises Nationales des Déchets et de l'Économie Circulaire are the leading congress of the waste sector in France, founded in 1991 and run by an association of the same name. A biennial event, it is held in Nantes.
• For 2026, the association is partnering with idealCO (organiser of the Carrefour des déchets) to offer a single national event combining institutional debates and a professional exhibition space.
• Next edition: the 19th, on Wednesday 30 September and Thursday 1 October 2026 at the Cité des Congrès de Nantes. A return to the two-day format after a 2024 edition condensed into a single day.
• According to actu-environnement.com, the 2026 edition is expected to be held under the high patronage of the President of the French Republic and the European Parliament.
• Outcome of the 18th edition (2024): more than 400 participants from 41 departments as well as from Belgium, Monaco and the Netherlands, with an attendee base made up of 45% private companies, 15% State and public bodies, 11% local authorities and 12% associations.

Who exhibits

Typical profile

Waste and recycling industry players, eco-organisations, State departments and public institutions, regional and local authorities, researchers and training organisations, consultancies, specialist media and associations. The 18th edition (2024) brought together 45% private companies, 15% State and public bodies, 12% associations, 11% local authorities, 10% students, 4% consultancies and 3% media.

The 2026 alliance with the Carrefour des déchets (idealCO) adds an exhibition space to the congress, where companies present their solutions to the sector's decision-makers and operational staff.

Notable exhibitors

List of exhibitors and partners on the official website: assises-dechets.org. The programme brings together the major public and private players in waste management, from eco-organisations to collection and recovery operators. The detailed list of 2026 exhibitors is currently being published.

Quality of the attendee base

• A strongly institutional and decision-making attendee base: State, local authorities, eco-organisations and industry players from the sector
• More than 400 participants in 2024, including nearly 60% loyal attendees who return regularly to the Assises
• A national audience (41 departments represented in 2024) with a European reach (Belgium, the Netherlands, Monaco)

Activities & community

Conference programme

The 2026 edition is built around three plenary sessions and 24 technical workshops. The plenaries focus on changes to the European framework, post-2027 policy directions and the territorial acceleration of the circular economy. The programme unfolds along five thematic tracks (official labels): MIEUX PRODUIRE, MIEUX CONSOMMER, MIEUX ANTICIPER L'AVENIR, MIEUX ACCOMPAGNER LES TERRITOIRES and MIEUX GÉRER LES DÉCHETS AU QUOTIDIEN. The historic format of the Assises is based on interactive debates, with speeches and ongoing exchanges with the audience.

Community and networks

The event brings together the federations and networks of the waste and circular economy sector, State departments and local authorities. The 2026 leadership brings together the Association des Assises Nationales des Déchets and idealCO, the leading network of regional and local authorities and a collaborative platform between public-sector players.

The full list of institutional, association, academic and media partners is published on the partners page of the official website: assises-dechets.org.

On site: what you need to know

Access, parking and accommodation: see the listing for the Cité des Congrès de Nantes.

Specific to the trade show:

• Dates: Wednesday 30 September and Thursday 1 October 2026, over two days (a return to the two-day format after the single-day 2024 edition).
• Registration: terms and access via the registration platform on the official website (assises-dechets.org).

Planning your visit

For the exhibitor

• 9 months out: get in touch with the organisation regarding your positioning in the exhibition space attached to the Carrefour des déchets.
• 6 months out: prepare your stand and solution demonstrations (collection, sorting, recycling, recovery).
• 3 months out: activate meetings with the local authorities, eco-organisations and State departments expected to attend.
• 6 weeks out: confirm the meeting schedule and the commercial brief on the five thematic tracks.

For the decision-making visitor

• Register in advance online at assises-dechets.org.
• Set aside both days to cover the three plenaries, the 24 workshops and all the thematic tracks.
• Identify the priority debates beforehand: European framework, post-2027 policy directions, territorial acceleration.
• Make the most of the exhibition dimension to meet industry players and operators from the sector.

How the trade show has evolved

Trajectory analysis

Founded in 1991, the Assises Nationales des Déchets are one of the oldest events in the sector in France. Long held in odd-numbered years, they shifted to even-numbered years from 2024, with an 18th edition exceptionally condensed into a single day and bringing together more than 400 participants. The 19th edition (2026) marks a turning point: a return to the two-day format, a programme enriched with 24 technical workshops and an alliance with idealCO and its Carrefour des déchets, which adds a professional exhibition dimension to the historic congress. This merger aims to establish the sector's single national event. The headline figures for the 2026 edition will be published after the trade show.

Unless otherwise stated, all factual data in this listing comes from the organiser's official website (assises-dechets.org).